Raymond Jessop Sentenced
[Guest post by DRJ]
FLDS member Raymond Jessop has been sentenced to 10 years in prison and a fine of $8,000 for sexual assault. Jessop faced a maximum term of 20 years and a $10,000 fine. Jessop’s attorneys plan to appeal but if the appeal is unsuccessful, Jessop will be eligible for parole in 5 years.
Another FLDS trial is set to begin in the next 3 weeks. Eleven other FLDS members “face charges ranging from aggravated sexual assault to failure to report child abuse.” Jessop also faces charges of bigamy.
— DRJ
I don’t get it. I really don’t.
Here we have a genuine nut job child rapist who openly proclaims he will gladly continue behaving as such, and he does not get the maximum. He has further demonstrated skills as a cult leader who influences others to engage in these despicable acts. Who the hell should get the max if not someone as bereft of conscience as he?
Ed from SFV (1333b1) — 11/11/2009 @ 4:17 pmI’m disappointed in this jury, who I thought had some sense.
AD - RtR/OS! (11f16f) — 11/11/2009 @ 4:34 pmThat this POS could be out walking the streets of TX in just five years should weigh heavily on their purported consciences.
“Eligible for parole” =/= “will certainly get parole.” I rather think that the people in charge of these things will want to keep him around for more than five years. And that’s assuming that they don’t find more things to charge him with.
technomad (0b1234) — 11/11/2009 @ 5:54 pmHow does Lawrence v. Texas affect the bigamy charges?
Michael Ejercito (6a1582) — 11/11/2009 @ 7:25 pmLawrence v. Texas and Raymond Jessop’s bigamy charge — Raymond Jessop’s bigamy charge is based upon a July 2006 purported marriage to a 15-year-old while he remained legally married to his “first wife.”
In 2003, FLDS member Rodney Hans Holm was convicted under the Utah bigamy statute which contains language similar to the Texas statute.
Rodney Hans Holm’s Utah bigamy charge was based upon his 1998 purported marriage to the 16-year-old sister of his legal wife.
His Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the United States Supreme Court (Holm v. Utah) contained key citations from Lawrence v. Texas. (As did his appeal to the Utah Supreme Court which was denied after being heard.)
SCOTUS denied the petition without comment in February 2007.
TexasTwist (7f091f) — 11/11/2009 @ 9:50 pm